La Barata del Central is a fascinating concept: the place looks like a farmers' market but you can´t just roll-up and buy some. You need to go on-line and reserve a box ...or have it delivered at no extra charge.
The idea is based on all the publicity surrounding Buenos Aires' huge Mercado Central and how much cheaper everything is there. Of course, if you´ve ever tried to take advantage the big mercado, you know how difficult and expensive a trip there can be. It´s just outside the city limits, public transport is limited and there are several tolls for those who drive.
The idea is similar to some produce subscription services I´ve seen back in the old country in which, for an annual fee, you receive a basket of select seasonal fruits and veggies every month or so. My Missus reminds me that it also reminds her of the kind of informal groups of friends that used to make trips to Mercado Central during hyperinflation days.
La Barata is different. You don´t have to subscribe or join a group! You just go on-line and tell them you would like either a large basket or a small one. If you are fortunate to live within their delivery area, they´ll schlep it to your door ...otherwise, you can go pick it up at their galpon in Palermo Hollywood.
The produce is definitely seeelect! The folks at La Barata del Central must be getting to the market awfully early because everything in the box was fresh, tender, and jewel-like. On their website, they make a big deal of how much cheaper they are ...but they compare themselves to a "corner chino where one potato costs 2 pesos." There are, certainly, places like that. However, I´m not sure that they are much cheaper than my wonderful corner greengrocer ...but the wealthiest parts of town (virtually all of them contained in the delivery area) may have priced-out many of their little verdulerías. I think the "marketing of their marketing" is on a great footing.
And La Barata delivers! Their delivery area is really big and includes parts of Coghlan, Villa Urquiza, Villa Ortuzar, Villa Crespo, Almagro, and all of Chacarita in addition to the usually well-served areas.
If my big box is any indication, you won´t be disappointed! Check 'em out here.
1 comment:
This seems like a great way to get a little bit of everything, if it is indeed cheaper than the corner store. Purchasing farm shares, or boxes of a portion of what the farm produces each month, is common in Philadelphia, but soooo expensive as the farmers have to drive pretty far to get into the city and the produce is always organic. I look forward to checking out La Barata asap!
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